Hydraulic connector

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic connector for use in underwater applications. The connector comprises a plug component and receptacle component, wherein at least one of the components comprises a hydraulic wand having ports associated therewith, such that, when the plug component is inserted into a receptacle component, the ports are connected from a watertight hydraulic flow path through both components. The connector further comprises a wiper surrounding one of the hydraulic wands, the wiper having a first surface in contact with the hydraulic wand and the second surface with a continuously increasing radius arranged, in use, to direct debris away from the hydraulic flow path as the plug component is inserted in the receptacle component. The connector may further comprise at least one scraper ring positioned around the wand and inside an outer housing on the receptacle component.

The present invention relates generally to hydraulic connectors, andmore specifically to hydraulic connectors for use in exceptionally harshenvironments, such as sub-sea and oil well applications.

In recent times there has been an increasing need to provide complexmachinery in sub-sea locations for use in oil and gas wellheads as wellas for other sub-sea applications. However, equipment associated withsub-sea and oil/gas well applications experiences high pressure andtemperature during continuous operation. Furthermore, the environmentsin which such equipment is being operated are harsh in terms of levelsof particulate contaminants and the potential for sea water or wellfluid ingress.

Accordingly, it is exceptionally difficult to provide hydraulicconnections which are both capable of withstanding the high pressuresand temperatures involved in continuous operation and provide asufficient barrier to contamination from sand, grit, etc. In addition,it is extremely difficult to provide such connectors which are simple tooperate remotely and/or in harsh environments.

The present invention seeks to provide a hydraulic connector assemblythat can be employed in a harsh environment, such as a sub-sea orwell-bore location, yet which overcomes some of the above problems. Thepresent invention also aims to provide a self-cleaning connector whichdoes not suffer from contamination problems.

According to the present invention there is provided

-   -   a hydraulic connector, for use in underwater applications, the        connector comprising:    -   a plug component and a receptacle component, wherein at least        one of the components comprises a hydraulic wand having ports        associated therewith, such that, when the plug component is        inserted into the receptacle component, the ports are connected        to form a water tight hydraulic flow path through both        components;    -   the connector further comprising a wiper surrounding one of the        hydraulic wands, the wiper having a first surface in contact        with the hydraulic wand and a second surface with a continuously        increasing radius arranged, in use, to direct debris away from        the hydraulic flow path as the plug component is inserted into        the receptacle component.

The connector of the present invention is self-cleaning and has verylittle fluid exchange. The wiper deflects debris away from the directionof insertion, and hence away from the wand ports. The self-cleaningeffect is enhanced by a flushing action generated as the plug componentis inserted into the receptacle component, creating a piston effect. Thehydraulic porting system is configured with the wiper system to create alinear connection with a high tolerance to axial engagement tolerances.

Additionally, the central components of the hydraulic connector areprotected from the effects of sand, which could block the wipermechanism.

An additional benefit is that the shape of the wiper enables a seal tobe made with the plug housing on engagement.

An example of the present invention will now be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional view of a receptacle component of aconnector according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows part of the component of FIG. 1 in greater detail;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a plug component of a connectoraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows part of the component of FIG. 3 in greater detail;.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show cross-sectional views of the first stage ofengagement of a connector according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show cross-sectional views of the second stage ofengagement of a connector according to the present invention; and

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show cross-sectional views of an engaged connectoraccording to the present invention.

A receptacle component 1 of a connector according to the presentinvention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The receptacle component1 has a hydraulic wand 2, through which hydraulic fluid flows when thereceptacle component 1 is connected to a plug component 3 (see FIG. 3and FIG. 4). At the engaging end of the wand 2 there are wand ports 4,which, in use, connect the hydraulic flow path in the receptacle 1 andplug 3 components. Receptacle component 1 has a threaded retainingsleeve 5 and various seals 6, 7 and 8 which provide a high pressuresealing capability for the hydraulic pressure, and prevent water ingressin use when the connector is attached to a housing (not shown). Ventports 9 are positioned in the sleeve 5 to allow venting of fluid duringconnection of the connector.

A wiper 10 surrounds the hydraulic wand 2. Debris ports 11 arepositioned at the engaging end of the threaded retaining sleeve 5, sothat, in use, debris directed away from the hydraulic flow path and wand2 by the wiper 10 will be ejected through the debris ports 11. Thereceptacle component 1 has in this example further debris scraper rings12 to prevent debris ingress between sleeve 5 and the other receptaclecomponents.

A seal stack shuttle assembly 13 fits around the wand 2 and scraperrings 12 and houses elastomer seals such as a “T” seal 14.Anti-extrusion back up rings 15 are provided to prevent deformation ofthe T seals 14 and are ideally made from PEEK thermoplastic or similarhigh performance material.

A plug component 3 of the connector 1 is illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG.4. A plug nose 15 of the plug component 3 engages, in use with the wiper10 of the receptacle component 1. Similarly to the receptaclecompartment 2, the plug component 3 has various seals 16 to 20 which canengage with an outer housing (not shown). A vent hole 21 is positionedadjacent a biassing member 22 and additionally there is a vent port 23and a retaining nut 24. The retaining nut 24 prevents over-insertionwhen the plug 3 and receptacle 1 components are engaged.

FIGS. 5 to 10 show the stages of engagement of the receptacle component1 with the plug component 3. Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, to engagethe connectors, the plug nose 15 of plug component 3 is inserted intoengagement with the receptacle component 1. As the plug nose 15 of theplug component 3 enters the shrouds of the receptacle component 1, thewiper 10 pushes debris such as sand and grit away from the hydraulicwand 2 and out through vent ports 11. This is enhanced by the flushingaction of the components 1, 3 as they are brought together, with thepiston effect of the plug nose 15 entering the shroud of the receptacleconnector 1. As well as the ramping profile of the wiper 10 deflectingdebris, it protects the hydraulic wand 2 and central pin 25 from theeffects of sand by acting in combination with seals 14 and scraper rings12. Sand can jam the mechanism. When the plug nose 15 of the plugcomponent 3 is in the shroud of the receptacle component 1 as shown inFIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the components in 1 and 3 are then aligned.

Water and debris ejected from the wiper 10 and plug nose 15 interface isejected though the debris ports 11.

As the plug 3 and receptacle 1 components are further pushed together,as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the wand 2 and central pin 25 centralizesand engages with the plug shuttle piston 28 which is spring energised byspring 22 and shuttle piston 28 is displaced through seals 19. At thesame time, the seal stack assembly 13 is displaced axially by the plugnose 15 by depressing spring 30.

Displaced fluid in the receptacle retaining sleeve 5 internal cavity isvented through ports 9. In the plug component 3 fluid from cavity 31 isdisplaced through ports 23. Vent slots 29 allow fluid to move across theshuttle piston 28 as the shuttle piston is depressed by the wand 2. Atthis stage in FIG. 8 the connection is shown at the minimum engagedposition with hydraulic flow now possible.

As the plug 3 and receptacle 1 components move further together, thesleeve 5 comes to abut with the edge of the nut 24 of plug component 3as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. In this position, the connectors arefully engaged to their maximum linear position and the wand ports 4 arewithin the sealing position of seals 19 maintaining flow path 27 in theplug component 3, so that there is a hydraulic flowpath through theentire engaged connector.

The described connector engages without being contaminated by debrissuch as sand and silt, due to the wiper 10 action and aided by thescraper rings 12 which also prevent any jamming by debris.

The connector can be engaged and separated with minimal force, as thereis no separating force generated across the mating components 1 and 3from hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic fluid because of the spoolvalve arrangement of the parts.

The wiper 10 establishes a face seal with a plug nose 15 on engagement.The “T” seal arrangement with PEEK thermoplastic backup rings providevery good anti-extrusion characteristics for reliable sealing atelevated temperatures and pressures. The various seals only engage whenthe connector is in alignment and alignment control is initiallyachieved by a remote tool or housing which the connector is mountedinside. After this, alignment is achieved from the plug nose 15 andgeometry of the shroud of the receptacle connector 1. The connector haslarge stack-up capabilities.

A retaining nut 24 prevents over-stroking on engagement. The vent ports9 and 23 which allow displacement of fluid mean that the sliding sealstock 13 and shuttle piston 28 can move freely within the components 1and 3.

1. A hydraulic connector, for use in underwater applications, theconnector comprising: a plug component and a receptacle component,wherein at least one of the components comprises a hydraulic wand havingports associated therewith, such that, when the plug component isinserted into the receptacle component, the ports are connected to forma water tight hydraulic flow path through both components; the connectorfurther comprising a wiper surrounding one of the hydraulic wands, thewiper having a first surface in contact with the hydraulic wand and asecond surface with a continuously increasing radius arranged, in use,to direct debris away from the hydraulic flow path as the plug componentis inserted into the receptacle component.
 2. A connector according toclaim 1, further comprising at least one scraper ring positioned aroundthe wand and inside an outer housing on the receptacle component.
 3. Aconnector according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least some of thehydraulic ports are arranged in a spool valve arrangement.
 4. Aconnector according to any preceding claim, further comprising at leastone “T” seal arranged, in use, to seal the connector around least one ofthe hydraulic ports when not connected.
 5. A connector according to anypreceding claim, further comprising a biassing member for each of theplug and receptacle components to bias each component towards a sealedposition.
 6. A connector according to any preceding claim, wherein thereceptacle component has vent ports on an outer housing to allow ventingof the debris directed from the wiper in use.
 7. A connector accordingto any of the preceding claims, wherein the plug component has anengaging nut which limits, in use, the insertion of the plug componentinto the receptacle component.
 8. A connector according to any of thepreceding claims, further comprising an engaging member for engagingwith the wiper.